Staff

Kelly McMahon, Chief Executive Officer, Capital Region
email
, (518) 486-8556

The Network is led by a full-time C.E.O, Kelly McMahon, housed out of the Capital Region office, who is responsible for overseeing the growth, development, and day-to-day operations of the network and capacity building of regional afterschool networks. Additionally, Kelly’s duties focus on staff management, budget oversight, and development and fundraising.

Prior to joining the Network for Youth Success, Kelly was employed by the Capital District YMCA for over ten years, and serving in her final capacity as Operations Director for the Albany Branch. Prior to her role in Albany,

Kelly was the Associate Executive Director for the Schenectady Branch. Kelly began her career at the YMCA as an afterschool site director then quickly rose to Childcare Director, and was then promoted to District Childcare Director overseeing school-age programs in six school districts.

Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Russell Sage College, an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Hudson Valley Community College, and a certificate from ECornell in Leading Remote Teams.  Kelly also went through the School-age Childcare (SAC) Credential Program and later became an accreditation coach and endorser for the Network for Youth Success.

Kelly was also one of the Riley Institute’s 2016-2017 White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellows.

Alli Lidie, Chief Operating & Strategy Officer, NYC
email, (518) 694-0660

Alli is involved in the full array of Network for Youth Success’ work, including state and national policy development, capacity-building for programs and stakeholders, and communications and partnership development in close coordination with the C.E.O. She takes a lead role in Network for Youth Success’ policy development and organizational management.

Prior to joining the Network for Youth Success in 2013, she was a Quality Advisor at Dallas Afterschool where she coached numerous programs to help them improve overall quality. Alli planned and implemented programming with middle school students for three years at the Old Firehouse Teen Center in Virginia and served as a Drama Specialist and Team Leader at Camp McLean. Alli holds a Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a minor in Economics from the University of Virginia. She was one of the Riley Institute’s 2014-2015 White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellows and one of National AfterSchool Association’s Next Generation Leaders in 2014.

Erin Broderick, Vice President of Quality and Capacity Building, Capital Region
email, (518) 694-0660

The Vice President of Quality and Capacity, Erin Broderick, is responsible for overseeing, executing, and expanding all of the quality services of the organization, including Afterschool Program Accreditation, School-Age Care Credential, Network membership, and the annual conference.  Erin also oversees all of the Network’s communication and marketing.

Erin joins the Network for Youth Success with many years of experience working with school-age children and school-age providers.  Most recently, Erin worked at the Capital District Child Care Council, where she helped to ensure quality in afterschool programs throughout the Capital District.

Erin teaches the NYS School-Age Credential Preparatory Program, advises credential candidates, and coaches programs through the accreditation process.  Erin also serves as an accreditation and credential endorser.

Erin holds a BFA in Graphic Design from the College of Saint Rose, a NYS Early Learning Trainer’s Credential and went through the NYS SAC Credential Program.

Erin holds a New York State Trainer and Technical Assistance Professional Credential as both a School-Age Professional Development Specialist and as a Coach. Erin is also a New York State Certified Health and Safety Trainer through the Office of Children and Family Services.

Timothy Fowler, Professional Development Director, Capital Region
email, (518) 486-8559

The Professional Development Director, Timothy Fowler, oversees all of the Network’s professional development and technical assistance work, along with all of the organization’s STEAM work, including leading the statewide National Girls Collaborative STEAM Project. The Quality Self-Assessment (QSA) tool is also a part of the Professional Development Department. Timothy’s work includes leading workshops and trainings, ensuring compliance with state requirements for training, providing coaching to individuals, and providing technical assistance on issues related to afterschool, summer, and expanded learning programs.

He previously worked for the Missouri AfterSchool Network, coordinating technical assistance for the state’s 21st Century Community Learning Center grantees. He has more than 25 years’ experience working with children and youth in a variety of community organizations.

Timothy completed his Masters Degree in Public Affairs — Nonprofit Management through the Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri–Columbia. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Washington University in St. Louis. Despite this, he is not from Missouri–Timothy spent his youth in Greene in Chenango County and Austerlitz in Columbia County. He graduated from Chatham High School before going to college in St. Louis, and returned home to New York in 2014.

Timothy holds a New York State Trainer and Technical Assistance Professional Credential as a Professional Development Specialist in School-Age and Early Care and a Coaching Credential for School-Age Professionals.

Trudy Morgan, Policy Director, Capital Region
email, (518) 270-1275

Trudy Morgan initially joined the Network for Youth Success as a Women and Public Policy Fellow from the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society (CWGCS). As the Policy Director, she leads the organization’s advocacy and policy efforts around expanded learning opportunities, including afterschool, summer, expanded learning time programs, and community schools. She is responsible for formulating and executing the organization’s statewide and national advocacy and policy efforts to increase funding for expanded learning opportunities, and addressing regulatory and programmatic concerns through legislation.

Before coming to the Network, Trudy worked as a Special Projects Assistant at the SUNY System Administration in the Office of Academic Affairs.  She served as an AmeriCorps VISTA Fellow at Brown University, working as a Coordinator with Generation Citizen — an action-civics, non-profit organization that empowers young people with tools, skills, and knowledge to become effective citizens. Trudy is also a proud alumna of the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) fellowship at Princeton University, and previously interned at New York City’s Mayor de Blasio’s office and Capitol Group LLC, a government relations firm.

Trudy holds a Master of Public Administration and a bachelor’s degree (honors) in Public Policy and Management from Rockefeller College of Public Policy and Affairs.

Sara Rickan Credential Director, Buffalo
email, (518) 212-7754

Sara currently serves as the Network’s Credential Director. In this position, Sara provides support and communications for four main groups: host agencies, distance learning (DL) and virtual (live) courses, credential candidates, endorsers, and advisors. 

Prior to working with the Network, Sara has spent over 15 years in the field of education teaching and serving youth in a variety of different capacities and training educators at Child Care Resource Network in Western New York. She has been a preschool and school age teacher, an afterschool programs coordinator/staff member, and sports clinic staff for various summer camps and clinics in Western New York. 

She obtained her New York State and Technical Assistance Professional Credential through NYSAEYC in both Early Childhood and School-Age. Sara has worked with afterschool programs across WNY as a SAC Credential Instructor, Advisor, and Endorser. She has also offered several professional development training opportunities to afterschool programs in topics such as supervision, STEM, SAC regulations, and open-ended art. 

Sara completed her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Childhood Education (B-6) at Buffalo State College and completed her Master of Science in Special Education at Capella University.

Lea Maggiulli, Office Coordinator, Capital Region
email

Lea Maggiulli, is the Office Coordinator, supporting the Network staff with day-to-day activities. Lea has many years of experience working with school age children and, school age providers. Lea has hands on experience as a school Age Childcare Director, and Trainer. Lea, recently was employed as a School Age Registrar, and Trainer, for Bright Side Up, formerly known as the Capital District Child Care Council. As a Registrar, Lea oversaw school age programs in the capital district area, to ensure compliance with the regulations. As a School Age Trainer, Lea taught the NYS School-Age Credential Preparatory Program, and, coached programs through the accreditation process. Lea served as an accreditation and credential endorser.

Gabrielle Schwartz, Policy Coordinator, Michigan
email, (518) 270-1275

Gabby originally joined the Network as a Policy Intern. As the Policy Coordinator, Gabby supports the policy department in crafting policy recommendations and collaborating with critical stakeholders to respond to the needs of the afterschool field. She recruits and coordinates for the Network’s Power of 3:00 Ambassadors program, coordinates meetings with internal and external stakeholders, and supports the policy department in advocacy efforts. 

Prior to her time at the Network Gabby served as a development intern with HAVEN, a nonprofit that provides services for survivors of intimate partner violence. In this role, she helped develop fundraising goals and supporting planning efforts for HAVEN’s annual Gala fundraiser. Gabby also worked as an intern for the American Red Cross where she coordinated volunteers with a specific focus on a youth volunteer program. 

Gabby holds a Master of Public Administration from Rockefeller College of Public Policy & Affairs, and a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Public Administration from Oakland University.

Alysha Branch, Capacity Building Coordinator, Capital Region
email

Alysha currently serves as the Capacity Building Coordinator.  In this position, Alysha develops social media strategies and engagement.  Additionally, Alysha maintains a plethora of behind the scenes capacity building work to support the field and the Network, particularly with the credential and membership initiatives.

Prior to working with the Network, Alysha worked for the Capital District YMCA for 15 years, starting as an activities assistant in an afterschool program and continuing to grow professionally until she became the Regional Child Care Director. In her most recent role, Alysha oversaw numerous afterschool programs, which included both fee for service as well as grant funded programming, and summer camps.  With her knowledge base in afterschool programming, she has worked with programs as both a SAC Credential Advisor and Endorser, Program Accreditation Coach and Endorser, and has offered high quality professional development to help support frontline staff in partnership with the Network.

Abbi Rice, STEAM Coordinator, Rochester
email, (518) 212-7847

Abbi previously worked for Impact Earth, a commercial and residential food waste hauler in Rochester, NY as their Environmental Education Manager. In this role, Abbi taught all ages on sustainability topics that include composting, zero waste living, and recycling. She also managed the food waste schools program which introduces composting into the lunchroom and teaches students the benefits of compost through hands-on and lecture based education.

Abbi Completed her Masters Degree in Environmental Anthropology at the University of Saskatchewan. Her Masters research brought her to Northern B.C. studying the effects that development has on First Nations access to the land. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in both Cultural Anthropology and Fine Arts with a Minor in Museum Studies from SUNY Brockport.

Cara Sherwood, Events Coordinator, Capital Region
email, (518) 212-7804

Cara oversees the Networks’ annual conference, Empower Youth Success, coordinates Network events, and provides supplemental support for Wayne MOST.

Cara comes with decades of experience in event planning, most recently coming from the Food & Beverage industry. She started her career in the energy efficiency sector with Lockheed Martin and then CLEAResult before transitioning to work for a traveling events company focusing on youth birthday parties. Past experience also includes Associate Producer of The Enchanted City Steampunk Festival and Mini Maker Faire held in Troy.

Cara has volunteered for the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Organization (HOBY NYE) for over 20 years. She held the Leadership Seminar Chairperson position for two years organizing their three day conference for high school sophomores. Additionally she has served as Director of Facilities, Director of Staffing, and a number of other committee and volunteer roles over the years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology with Minors in Medical Anthropology and Spanish from SUNY Potsdam.

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